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It goes without saying the Pittsburgh Steelers have had an interesting 2020 NFL draft. The team sat patiently on Thursday night without a first-round pick and then came in on Friday with the mentality of drafting athleticism on both sides of the football.
The Steelers drafted former Notre Dame wide receiver Chase Claypool with their second-round pick. Claypool is a huge target with uncommon athleticism and should add a new dimension to the Steelers passing offense. In the third round, Pittsburgh opted for edge rusher Alex Highsmith. Highsmith dominated small-school competition and will now need to show he can consistently compete at a high level against NFL-caliber offensive tackles.
How did the Steelers do? According to our friends over at Draft Wire, the haul was worth a B-. Here’s what they had to say about the picks.
No first-round pick makes a Steelers fan sad, but just remember you have Minkah Fitzpatrick instead, and you should sleep just fine. It was surprising to see the Steelers pass on a top running back like Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins at No. 49 overall, but Notre Dame’s Chase Claypool is an intriguing prospect.
Claypool’s athleticism and versatility make him a fun fit here, and the Steelers have proven they know what they’re doing when it comes to evaluating wide receiver prospects.
Charlotte’s Alex Highsmith is among the most underrated gems in this entire draft class, and he gives the Steelers insurance in case Bud Dupree doesn’t stay on a long-term extension after playing on the franchise tag this season.
Both of these picks were made with an eye on the future. Each is at a key position where the Steelers could get hit in 2021 free agency. Highsmith could end up replacing Dupree and Claypool might be the replacement for JuJu Smith-Schuster if the team cannot re-sign him.
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